An online store that combines our love for good design and travel, while supporting good causes.
max bill Chronoscope, by Junghans
Automatic mechanical movement J880.2 with display for date, chronoscope with second stop, luminous hands and appliques, stainless steel case Ø 40.0 mm, convex hard Plexiglass with SICRALAN coating, calfskin strap with stainless steel buckle, waterproof.
“Vast new cities of apartments and shops are being built across China at a rate of ten a year, but they remain almost completely uninhabited ghost towns.
It’s all part of the government’s efforts to keep the economy booming, and there are many people who would love to move in, but it’s simply too expensive for most.”
An interesting interview with Steven Sasson, inventor of the digital camera.
I particularly like his reasoning for the 30 image storage capacity of the camera:
“The tape would hold 30 images, a number I chose to be conveniently between 24 and 36. I didn’t want to just store one or two images on there, because then they’d say ‘that’s not very useful.’ I didn’t want to store a hundred or a thousand images on there because nobody knew how to deal with that concept.”
On Your Way Here is a series of interviews with designers focused on life experiences and decisions.
There’s something to be said about the nature of things that are made by hand. Perhaps it’s the image of the master craftsman refining away in the workshop. Perhaps it’s the inane human quality of a seemingly inanimate object that results when another human being has poured their heart and soul into its inception. Or perhaps it’s the large price tag that ensures you’re the only kid on the block sporting it.
Whatever it is, the Miniot iPad 2 Cover, carved from a single piece of wood, has it in spades. With a reasonably sized price tag.
I have to admit, my expectations walking into Semi-Permanent’s inaugural Hong Kong event last Friday were pretty low. Of all the different types of conferences that I typically attend, I usually find design conferences to be of the least value, often containing two or three days of Powerpoint (or these days, Keynote) slides alongside designers waffling on about this project and that project that most of us have already seen on the Internet.
Having said that, Semi-Permanent’s first foray into Asia was a professional and tightly executed production that far exceeded my expectations.
I won’t provide a synopsis of each speaker because frankly, I’d much rather let the other bloggers and live Tweeters do this and sit back and enjoy the conference. However, as each speaker concluded, it became increasingly evident that each presentation shared a common underlying theme of risk. Each speaker owed their successes to the risks that they had taken and it was now our time and our responsibility to do the same in order move to forward as an industry in Hong Kong.
I’d like to think that this theme of ‘risk’ was the serendipitous result of the coming together of great minds, but regardless of whether or not this was the intention of Simon Velvin, the event’s brainchild, it made for an event that truly does inspire one to pursue whatever it is that makes them happy.
UPDATE
Check out Fernando Gros and Secretstylist for other reviews of the conference.
My wallet has been in a steady state of decline for a while now and it’s starting to get a little embarrassing. The edges are frayed, the stitching has started to come undone, and carrying Hong Kong’s oversized bank notes just looks ridiculous. So alas, the time has come to find the heir to my Morrissey’s thrown.
Despite it’s current shortcomings, I’ve become rather sentimentally attached to my hand-me-down Morrissey.
You see, this wallet has taught me a simple, yet profound lesson in minimalism. Having only three slots for cards, a pocket for three or four more cards, and a clip for notes; one must reevaluate what they really need to carry with them. Look in your own wallet and ask yourself how many video store memberships, loyalty cards with only a single stamp, or coupons do we carry around on the pretense that we might actually use them someday?
There have been a number of potential candidates like J.Fold, Dosh or Hard Graft, but I think I may have found the successor to my beloved Morrissey…
The Slim Sleeve Wallet, by Bellroy
A beautiful balance of small with convenient, the Slim Sleeve is easy to underestimate. Your 2 primary cards go in quick draw, then a tab lets you get to your less frequently used cards.
Features:
- 2 quick access card slots
- Pull tab for infrequently accessed cards
- Slim profile reduces wallet bulk
- Notes can be folded in 2 or 3 folds
- Premium vegetable tanned cow leather
- Starting Size: 10 X 7.3cm (reduces when filled, holds 15+ cards)
“My greater concern is that ownership makes us think in ‘me’ terms, and this is horribly destructive. It leaves us thinking that we’ll accept a low priced product from Walmart, in spite of how the costs were externalized, be it child labor or environmental abuse. It leaves us wary of lending things to others, fearing that they may not be returned.”
A highly recommended opinion on the burdens of ownership, eloquently written by Eric Karjaluoto.
The Hatfield!, by TrackosaurusRex
Hand made in the USA with the same cut and stylings as the Workmen’s Cap but made of fine wools found all over the US! The cap is named after two of my friends who live one of the most cyclecentric lives one has ever seen. They push each other to ride further and faster everyday and I mean everyday. The first wool was found in a boutique fabric store in Oakland where this couple live and breath cycling. Thanks for the inspiration and a fantastic time!
Cupuc [+d.] by Yoshihide Nakatani
’A cup that looks like any other. Flip it over, and it looks like a soda can! A simple but fun design.’
(Source: cataci.com)
Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Camera Case, by Photojojo
Photography’s your art form of choice…as evidenced by the sewing machine gathering dust in the corner and the fact that you’re hanging around Photojojo (hi!).
As much as you might like to hand make a sweet camera case, things are lookin’ grim on the craft-making front. We’ve got you covered.
Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Camera Case, and he was made of felt to look just like your favorite thing (a camera)! He holds and/or cuddles a variety of small cameras and other goodies: like your go-to point-and-shoot, your Blackberry, or your growing collection of Instax prints.
No doubt Fuzzy will one-up the fair faire at your local craft fair. Not only do his stitched seams and chunky color block buttons and dials look awesome, but his soft, felt cushioning and velcro closure were made to protect what’s inside.
Be crafty in your own way by storing something other than a camera in this 3.75” x 2.5” case: cash, crayons, or candy are a start! Mmm, secret Big Chew stash.
Flip Table, by Signe Baadsgaard
Problem: You’re short on space, and you don’t have room for a dedicated workstation at home. As a result, paperwork lies like a patchwork of worries over the kitchen table, where it quickly becomes an irritation. When it’s time to eat, you stack all the papers at the one end, losing any semblance of organization or sense of progress.
No Problem: Flip Table is the flexible table that can facilitate your various everyday needs. Your workstation is located inside the tabletop, where your paperwork lies as you last left it – you just have to open the top to continue where you left off. Cables and chargers lie ready in the long cable trays, and the drawers contain your laptop computer and office supplies. When finished, you close the top again, leaving the tabletop ready for dinner or company.
